In 1968, Mauritius gains independence from the UK, motor racing world champion Jim Clark is killed at 32yrs when his car leaves the racing track and smashes in to a tree in Hockenheim, the new Abortion Act comes into effect allowing abortions in certain circumstances and provided free n the NHS, Martin Luther King is assassinated by James Earl Ray which leads to rioting across the US, the first Isle of Wight festival takes place, British tennis player Virginia Wade wins the US Open, the M1 motorway is completed, the Olympics take place in Mexico– which sees the Black Power Salute during a medal ceremony, anti-Vietnam protests take place in London, Mary Bell an 11yr old girl is sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of two young boys, Senator Robert Kennedy is assassinated, the Kray twins are arrested for the murder of two underworld gang members and the films 2001: a Space Odyssey, Rosemary’s Baby, Bullitt, Night of the Living Dead, Planet of the Apes, Romeo and Juliet, Yellow Submarine, Funny Girl, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Oliver! are released.

When a playlist starts with Stevie Wonder and then goes onto Aretha Franklin then onto the Beatles and ends with the Mamas & Papas and also features both Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding, you know the 60s were everything and yes once again I could cry. Here’s all those gems from 1968, in no particular order.

Rather bizarrely, I can remember exactly where I was and why I was there when I heard about Bobby Kennedy being shot, even though I had no idea who he was.

My favourite song in 1968 was probably “Where is love?” from Oliver. Coincidentally someone was slaughtering it in the shopping precinct this morning. The soundtrack from Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang was much less memorable.

Your top ten is great, but I certainly wasn’t aware of all of them at the time.

Oh it’s just so perfect. It would’ve been wonderful to see how Otis’s music would have evolved if he hadn’t had died so young. He was just starting to try a new sound with this song. So sad, but what a legacy to leave us all with.